Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-07-22

| reflected. was the onit man in the
house. Possibly, yes, assure1Iy, toe glrls
were timid There was something IN the air
that made them nervous
Il will not 20 back to my rooms until You
are ali ready 10 go to bed, | said Mrs Ed
munds, if you care to vanquish me IN game
of chess, cards, whatever you prefer, Will
remain IN the sitting room
Il am very glad Of the opportunity. It
will not be 50 dreary. Indeed, she added, as
the servants seated themselves beside the fire
in the dining room, gancing at them over
her shoulder, Il don't know when | felt as
nervous Is have felt this evening We will
sit here Now, this is COY. 10 think, Mr.
Freeman, this may be tine last time We will
ever play chess together.
The storm rose, gathered strength and ex-
pended ITS fury in a riOtous manner that was
made memorable over a vast region Of land
and water The havoc made that November
night impoverished families boasting the ac-
cumulstIons Of four generations. Lives, for
tunes great mechanical achievements melted
away in an hour in the gale that devastated
towns, farms and thousands of miles Of the
seacoast.
Half past eleven" said Mrs Edmunds, as
she turned her face To the dining room, then
glanced at me triumphantly. You have lost
your queen, your king is in check
1t was true | had lost four out Of five
hard fought games.
I'VE will 60 to bed now"
The servants rose. | went to my room and
sat down l heard Mrs Edmunds going to
her room The servants preceded her They
were now in high spirits. They laughed as
they bade their mistress good night.
As for me, | WAS not incline! TO sleep
repleuished my fire, drew my easy chair
closer to it and sat down 70 think. My med
itations were Of pleasing nature. had for
gotten the incident of the evening, or recalled
il only TO smile at the ahsurdity ! was guilty
Of did not light my lamp ! was in that
agreeable frame of mind which renders peo-
pie Indifferent, disinclined to eNertion, recep-
tive, rather; travellers III life who permit the
craft 10 drift. The freight cleaned fitfully
on the antique furniture that Mrs. Edmunds
was so proud of, then grew dim. The ele-
ments overhead played gamut en- the chin
ney Ii reverberated with the roar of the
steady wind; now il sounded a deep bass
now il shrieked with the cross cutting cur
rents then suddenly the fire spluttered, as
the snow was forced down upon it.
had Just looked up inv oluntarily at the
clock-mere force Of habit, the light was 50
dim could barely discern the cleck-when
nv door opened | cannot describe the sen
sation | experienced which impressed me with
the fact | knew just as we'll as you who
read these lines know you hold this paper,
that my door had opened, yet | was sitting
with my back to it
nerved myself for the effort: it required a
great effort 10 rise; 1T required all the power
possessed to enable NE to stand upright and
turn slowly around facing the door, where
beheld Elanor Tottenham. She stood Oh the
threshold of the wide open door, looking at
| me with a smiling face. Her lips were parted
she sighed, rather than spoke, Richard" and
when advanced quickly, with outstretched
hand, saying, ~Elanor, And at this hour, ~
she turned and disappeared.
ran out into the hall simultaneously
there was u cry. The sound came from Mrs.
Edmunds' room Suddenly the servants ap-
peared; it was evident they had not slept;
they exhibited rare presence of mind.
pointed authoritatively to Mrs Edmunds'
room; Violet was the first 10 enter, but pres
| entity the mistress and her maids entered the
hall Mrs. Edmunds was deadly pale, She
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